# Hamlin County, South Dakota

Hamlin County is a county in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,164. Its county seat is Hayti. The county was created in 1873 and organized in 1878. It was named for Hannibal Hamlin, Lincoln's first vice-president.

## Geography

The terrain of Hamlin County consists of low rolling hills, dotted with small lakes and ponds. The land is largely dedicated to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the south-southeast, and its highest point is on the eastern boundary line, near its NE corner, at 1,949 ft (594 m) ASL.
Hamlin County has a total area of 538 square miles (1,390 km$^2$), of which 507 square miles (1,310 km$^2$) is land and 31 square miles (80 km$^2$) (5.7%) is water.

### Major highways

* Interstate 29
* U.S. Highway 81
* South Dakota Highway 21
* South Dakota Highway 22
* South Dakota Highway 28

### Adjacent counties

* Codington County - north
* Deuel County - east
* Brookings County - southeast
* Kingsbury County - southwest
* Clark County - west

### Protected areas

Source:
* Baxter Slough State Public Shooting Area
* Bochek State Public Shooting Area
* Eidsness State Public Shooting Area
* Hamlin State Public Shooting Area
* Harju State Public Shooting Area
* Hayes Slough State Public Shooting Area
* Johnsons Slough State Public Shooting Area
* McShane State Public Shooting Area
* Opdahl Slough State Public Shooting Area
* Rasmussen State Public Shooting Area

### Lakes

Source:
* Clear Lake
* Dry Lake
* Lake Albert (partial)
* Lake Marsh
* Lake Mary
* Lake Norden
* Lake Poinsett
* Lake Saint John

## Demographics
### 2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 6,164 people, 2,155 households, and 1,513 families residing in the county. The population density was 12.2 inhabitants per square mile (4.7/km$^2$). There were 2,759 housing units.

### 2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 5,903 people, 2,108 households, and 1,483 families in the county. The population density was 11.6 inhabitants per square mile (4.5/km$^2$). There were 2,760 housing units at an average density of 5.4 units per square mile (2.1 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 96.7% white, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 1.8% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 42.3% were German, 24.0% were Norwegian, 7.0% were English, 6.1% were Irish, 5.4% were Dutch, and 5.3% were American.
Of the 2,108 households, 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.6% were non-families, and 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.28. The median age was 36.8 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,439 and the median income for a family was $54,483. Males had a median income of $36,921 versus $24,645 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,558. About 4.9% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### Cities

* Bryant
* Castlewood
* Estelline
* Lake Norden

### Towns

* Hayti (county seat)
* Hazel

### Census-designated place

* Claremont Colony
* Lake Poinsett (part)
* Poinsett Colony

### Unincorporated communities

Source:
* Baxter Slough
* Dempster
* Thomas

### Townships

* Brantford
* Castlewood
* Cleveland
* Dempster
* Dixon
* Estelline
* Florence
* Garfield
* Hamlin
* Hayti
* Norden
* Opdahl
* Oxford

## Politics

Hamlin County voters have usually voted Republican. In only one national election since 1932 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate.
United States presidential election results for Hamlin County, South Dakota :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 2,560 | 79.36% | 610 | 18.91% | 56 | 1.74% |
| 2020 | 2,372 | 76.94% | 647 | 20.99% | 64 | 2.08% |
| 2016 | 2,051 | 74.26% | 555 | 20.09% | 156 | 5.65% |
| 2012 | 1,803 | 64.55% | 921 | 32.98% | 69 | 2.47% |
| 2008 | 1,661 | 59.60% | 1,043 | 37.42% | 83 | 2.98% |
| 2004 | 1,946 | 64.63% | 1,015 | 33.71% | 50 | 1.66% |
| 2000 | 1,731 | 63.57% | 923 | 33.90% | 69 | 2.53% |
| 1996 | 1,352 | 49.02% | 1,101 | 39.92% | 305 | 11.06% |
| 1992 | 1,133 | 41.35% | 826 | 30.15% | 781 | 28.50% |
| 1988 | 1,380 | 52.06% | 1,258 | 47.45% | 13 | 0.49% |
| 1984 | 1,782 | 64.54% | 963 | 34.88% | 16 | 0.58% |
| 1980 | 1,885 | 62.69% | 903 | 30.03% | 219 | 7.28% |
| 1976 | 1,452 | 50.66% | 1,402 | 48.92% | 12 | 0.42% |
| 1972 | 1,693 | 56.85% | 1,276 | 42.85% | 9 | 0.30% |
| 1968 | 1,649 | 56.36% | 1,149 | 39.27% | 128 | 4.37% |
| 1964 | 1,525 | 49.42% | 1,561 | 50.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,139 | 63.49% | 1,230 | 36.51% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 2,083 | 61.68% | 1,294 | 38.32% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 2,391 | 71.48% | 954 | 28.52% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 1,608 | 53.98% | 1,326 | 44.51% | 45 | 1.51% |
| 1944 | 1,811 | 63.97% | 1,020 | 36.03% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 2,279 | 64.00% | 1,282 | 36.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 1,857 | 52.25% | 1,622 | 45.64% | 75 | 2.11% |
| 1932 | 1,267 | 39.23% | 1,920 | 59.44% | 43 | 1.33% |
| 1928 | 1,959 | 63.19% | 1,088 | 35.10% | 53 | 1.71% |
| 1924 | 1,144 | 52.38% | 207 | 9.48% | 833 | 38.14% |
| 1920 | 1,322 | 63.68% | 337 | 16.23% | 417 | 20.09% |
| 1916 | 1,039 | 57.82% | 692 | 38.51% | 66 | 3.67% |
| 1912 | 0 | 0.00% | 474 | 29.92% | 1,110 | 70.08% |
| 1908 | 1,095 | 68.57% | 434 | 27.18% | 68 | 4.26% |
| 1904 | 1,197 | 75.76% | 307 | 19.43% | 76 | 4.81% |
| 1900 | 928 | 62.79% | 509 | 34.44% | 41 | 2.77% |
| 1896 | 702 | 55.10% | 559 | 43.88% | 13 | 1.02% |
| 1892 | 537 | 50.80% | 161 | 15.23% | 359 | 33.96% |

## Notable people

* Nicholas Egbert Knight (1866–1946), politician
* Kristi Noem, Governor of South Dakota